The Best Hospitals in Curacao

best_hospitals_curacao

Every year the beautiful island of Curaçao welcomes over 1M tourists. The island’s mild climate, away from the regional hurricane belt, its cozy atmosphere combined with the local zest of life make it one of the most preferable Caribbean destinations all year round.

Apart from the tourism-related facilities and the nice atmosphere, the tiny island offers a range of social services to its guests.

Healthcare in Curaçao

The healthcare on the island of Curaçao is fairly well managed. From doctors upon arrival and medics in the hotels to large, equipped hospitals, Curaçao is ready to cope with most of the urgent cases. However, tourists should bear in mind that the local health-care service may differ from what they are used to at their residential countries.

The hotels usually keep medical staff at the disposal of their guests. Visiting doctors is the most popular way to examine and provide first aid. And yet, sometimes, admission to a hospital is required.

Best hospitals in Curaçao

Curaçao Medical Center (CMC)

Formerly known as the Sehos – Hospitaal St. Elisabeth, today CMC is the largest hospital in the island. This is also the only one equipped with an intensive care unit. The hospital has 23 treatment clinics among which cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, pediatrics, and urology. The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) has a decompression chamber to treat decompression sickness.

  • Contact:

HNO Transitie en Exploitatie N.V.

J.H.J. Hamelbergweg z/n

Willemstad, Curaçao

E info@cmc.cw

T +599 9 745 0000

Antillean Adventist Hospital

Established in 1970, the hospital is part of the larger, U.S. based Seventh-day Adventist Hospitals. The hospital provides ophthalmology and gastroenterology treatment. It also has a sleep center and offers one-day admission for express check.

The hospital manages two policlinics with general practitioners, plastic surgeons, internists and nephrologists, pediatricians, and gynecologists.

  • Contact:

Groot Davelaarweg #1

Willemstad, Curaçao

P.O. Box 3547

Email: contact@aahospital.org

Phone: +599 9 737 0611

Sahoury Medical Institute

There are numerous smaller clinics on the island, highly specialized in a specific field like the Sahoury Medical Institute specialized in pain management and palliative care. The clinic has a dedicated medical plan for tourists.

  • Contact:

Landhuis Pos Cabai

Schottegatweg Oost – back of SFT Bank

P.O. Box 3547

Fax: + 599-9 736-3216

Phone: +599 9 736-3006

The health-care services in Curaçao cover most of the cases that may occur during a trip to the island. However, they may be far from what some tourists are used to in their home countries. In case of a critically ill patient that cannot be handled on place, they will be transferred to Colombia and treated there if other is not specified in their travel insurance.

Often, patients are asked to prepay 100% of the treatment before being admitted to hospital. The conditions under the standard social security Medicare program are not accepted in Curaçao.

This is why it is highly recommended the tourist insurance packages with medical insurance that will cover potential medical evacuation (Medevac). Without an insurance the Medevac costs up to USD 25,000 / EUR 23,600.

For a spotless trip to Curaçao

To decrease the risk of falling ill and loosing money over badly planned vacation, here are our recommendations:

  • In case of preexisting medical condition, bring a letter from your treating physician describing the health condition and the prescribed medicines (incl. their generic names);
  • Keep the medications imported to Curaçao in their original containers with all labels visible;
  • As a rule of thumb – eat well cooked and peeled food. However, as the tab water is distilled from sea water and being therefore perfectly safe to drink, there is no risk in eating fruits and vegetables washed with it. The food from the restaurant as well as from the market and the grocery stores is generally safe and of good quality.
  • Get vaccinated! There are mandatory and recommended vaccines for visiting Curaçao. Check with the WHO for updated information on the vaccines to be made for the time of your visit.

CURAÇAO EMERGENCY LINES

Fire Department / Police: 911

Ambulance/EMS: 912

Coastal Guard: 913

Vaccines for travelling to Curaçao

As said above, the mandatory vaccines to visit Curaçao can defer in time and country of origin of the traveller. This is why it is better to know what the prevalent public diseases are and what are the recommendations to follow when heading to Curaçao. Check your foreign ministry’s advice, and the Curaçao health care authorities’ recommendations.

Dengue, Yellow Fever, Zika, and Chikungunya are among the illness present in the Netherland’s Antilles. Please, note that getting vaccinated can take time. Some of the vaccines need to be administrated twice. For others a period of 10 days should pass before being safe to expose to the viruses. Allow yourself a period of three weeks prior arriving to Curaçao in order to be on the safe side.

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